South rises again: One half of Big 12 carries the other

By Berry Tramel

Published: June 15, 2006

The Big 12 fared well in winning national championships this school year, with six. That matches the SEC and ACC, trailing the Pac-10 by only two.

What if: Bob Stoops in the dugout?
Remember when: Len Bias' death and the War on Drugs
Now or then? Wilt vs. Shaq at the line
The list: Oklahoma hitters
Cheers and jeers

The South Division won five of the six: Oklahoma State won wrestling and men's golf, Texas won football and women's indoor track, Oklahoma won men's gymnastics and Colorado won skiing.

The South domination is not extraordinary news. The South has been boosting the Big 12's status largely since the league formed.

The Big 12 has won 37 national team titles in its 10-year existence. The South has won 25 of the 37 and almost all the prestigious championships.

The North's 12 national titles have come from skiing (Colorado twice), bowling (Nebraska four times), cross-country (Colorado twice each in men's and women's), women's volleyball (Nebraska once) and football (Nebraska once).

Volleyball and cross-country are legit. But skiing and bowling are the most fringe of sports the NCAA sponsors.

Meanwhile, the South has won titles in football (OU and Texas once each), baseball (Texas twice), women's basketball (Baylor once), men's golf (OSU twice), men's gymnastics (OU four times), women's indoor track (Texas twice), women's outdoor track (Texas thrice), softball (OU once), men's swimming (Texas thrice), men's tennis (Baylor once) and wrestling (OSU four times).

The Big 12 is considered a virtual equal to the likes of the Big Ten and Pac-10 and ACC and SEC. The South Division schools are why.

When the league formed, the Big 12 North dominated both football and basketball. That changed a few years ago. The South now dominates both. It dominates in most sports. Truth is, the South Division schools give the league the status it enjoys.